U.S. air strikes target senior al-Qaida leaders in Afghanistan: Pentagon

The Pentagon confirmed Wednesday that U.S. forces conducted precision air strikes Sunday in eastern Afghan province of Kunar which targeted two of al-Qaida's most senior leaders in the country.

The two al-Qaida leaders were identified as Faruq al-Qatani and Bilal al-Utabi, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement.

"We are still assessing the results of the strikes, but their demise would represent a significant blow to the terrorist group's presence in Afghanistan, which remains committed to facilitating attacks against the United States, our allies, and partners," he said.

Al-Qatani, who served as al-Qaida's leader in northeastern Afghanistan, was a senior planner for attacks against the United States, and has a long history of directing deadly attacks against U.S. forces and coalition allies, Cook said.

Al-Utabi is believed to have been involved in efforts to reestablish a safe haven in Afghanistan from which to threaten the West, and recruit and train foreign fighters, Cook said.

If the air strikes were successful, they would disrupt al-Qaida's efforts to plot against the United States and its allies and partners, reduce the threat to the Afghan government, and help deny al-Qaida a safe haven in Afghanistan, the spokesman added. Endi